If you are a music lover then chances are you enjoy going to concerts. Concerts are a fun escape from every day life and a chance to unwind with one of your favorite musicians. However, there are many more ways to get scammed when buying concert tickets these days than their used to be and that can really take the fun out of it.

There are steps you can take to avoid getting scammed though. Protect yourself from disappointment and protect your wallet with these steps:

Buy From Legitimate Sites

Your first choice for buying event tickets should be through a legitimate source. Most events have direct links to a ticket vendor or tickets are available through the venue’s box office. This is always the best way to go. There’s a strong change the tickets on Craigslist or Ebay are either scams or are going to cost twice as much as the face value. You don’t want to break the bank or end up at the concert only to find out that your tickets are fakes and you can’t get in.

Don’t Buy From Scalpers

The scalpers outside of concerts that are “selling tickets” can be just ask bad as online sources like Craigslist. You can run into the same issues and end up having a very bad experience.

Don’t Trust Sketchy Links

You might come across ads or emails that promise you an especially cheap concert ticket. It can seem like a great offer, but be wary of these types of offers. An overly cheap concert ticket can often times be a ticket you will never receive or one that won’t work at the venue. Pay close attention the sources for offer like this.

Use Your Best Judgement

In the end it can be best to follow your gut. If something about a ticket offer seems off, it probably is. Also, if the offer seems too good to be true then that is probably true as well. Use your best judgement and double check sources before making a purchase. If all else fails a good thing to do is call the venue or official ticket vendor and ask if an offer is legitimate. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.